Aerial machine.



Wit/Lassa.

H. U. LOBNITZ.

AERIAL MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED OCT 8, 1909.

Patented Aug. 8, 1911 3 SHEETS-311E111 1.

H. G. LOBNITZ.

AERIAL MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OUT 8, 1909.

Patented Aug. 8,1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Witnesses.

H. G. LOBNITZ.

AERIAL MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0018, 1909.

Patented Aug. 8, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

.- To all w hom itmay concern:

' I ,Be-i known that I, HENRY CALDER UNITED "STATES PATENT onnicn.

' HENnY canons. LOBNITZ, or gowns, IsLn-or'wIencr, ENGLAND.

NI'r Z,-a .subject of the King of Great Britain, reslding at Devonia,Baring Road, Cowes,

- lsle of lVig'ht, England, have invented new and useful Improvements inand Relating to Aerial Machines, of which the following is aspecification. I

This invention relates to improvements 1n aerial machlnes 'of the'kindin which a pivoted weighted pendulum or weight has been employed incombination with planes actuated by the same for balancing orequiqlibrating purposes.

According to my invention I, employ a weighted pendulum hung. froma'universal joint to allow it to swing fore and aft 01' laterally anddepending through slotted straps or bars arranged at right angles toeach other, and which are connected to rods attached by wires orthe'like to the equilibrating planes. Each rod passes through a cylinderor dash-pot provided with a piston having a small opening therein, thesaid cylinder being filled with oil or other liquid or air for thepurpose of preventing a' too quick movement of the rod. and consequentjerking. .The lower part of the aeroplane has an opening to allow theWeighted pendulum which is suspended above the bottom of the aeroplaneto swing freely andthesaid open ing is provided with a cap or coverinclosing the pendulum weight and protecting it from air currents.

Instead of a weighted pendulum a platform hung from the upper plane by auni- V versal joint or front uprights and. having a rod projecting fromthe underside and being suspended just above the bottom plane of theaeroplane may be used. The rod projecting from the underside of theplatform depends through slotted straps or bars as previously mentioned;On this platform the aviator, passengers or cargo can be carried. v

To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe it byreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view in sectional side elevation, and Fig. 2is a sectional plan, also diagrammatic, of an aerial machine provided,with my improvement. Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively a side view and asectional plan illustrating a modifica AE Ai MAQH 'N p s ecifiers-senaeira e; j Patented Aug. 8, 1911. Application fiiedvoembr a, 190911Serial no. 521,671.

wtions'of my invention, and Figs. 5 and 6 are views similar to Figs. 4and 5 respectivelyv illustrating another modification. Fig. 7 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 1 illustrating an arrangement of a pendulous platform.

a, a indicate theaeroplanes which are connected to a framing of anysuitable construction, and b, b and c are the adjustable planes arrangedat'the'front and rear of the machine respectively, which are designed tobe operated for maintaining the equilibrium of the machine.

(Z Figs. .1 and 2 is the pendulum, the mo tions of which, relativelywith the frame when the machine tilts, is to be utilized for controllingthe e'quilibrating planes 6, b and 0. This pendulum, as shown is at itsupper end carried by the universal joint e in a stand or frame f, andnear its lower end passes through the slots 9, k in bars 2', jrespectively, which bars are in connection with the equilibrating planes'6, b and c in such a manner that, if, for instance, the

front of the machine tilts downward, the

pendulum, by maintaining its vertical position will draw the rod 7'forward in the direction of the arrow 1 Fig. 2, and operate theequilibrating plane 0 through suitable connections to'the requiredextent-to restore the equilibrium, no movement being imparted to the rod2' as the pendulum swings freely in the slot thereof. If, on the otherhand, the machine tilts so that one end or wing is lower than the otherend, then the motion is transmitted through the slotted bar h to the rod2' so that the equilibrating planes 5,?) are moved in the requiredmanner to effect re-adjustment, for instance, by turning one plane withthe leading edge up and the other plane with the leading edge down.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the motion of the slotted bars 71, j istransmitted to the respective planes through the medium of p111- thesaid rods '5, 7' causes the rotation of the said .pulleys and disk. Themotion may, however, be transmitted by any other suitable means, forinstance, by a rack and pinion as shown in Fig. 7. The rod 11 isrepresented as being arranged in conjunction with ,two pulleys actuatedby right and left-hand rods 2', the latter pass through buffer orcushion cylinders n, 0 respectively, the said cylinders being suitablyfixed and having upon them pistons which slide in the said cylinders,each piston being provided with a small hole through which the oil orother liquid or air, with which the cylinder is filled, will passslowly'when the pistons move, in a well-known manner.

In order to provide for a more rapid movement of the rods 2', j thanwould be possible if the fluid had to pass through a hole in the piston,as, for instance, in case the machine is struck by a gust of wind, Iadvantageously arrange that the cylinders 72,0 shall be capable ofmoving bodily; an arrangement for this purpose is shown in Figs. 3 and4, wherein the cylinder is represented as being provided with projectingside pieces p, p which slide in guides g, g, springs 1', 9" (thepressure of, which is, adjustable by means of screws r 41 being arrangedin the said guides on either side of. the projecting pieces p, p whichsprings are of sufiicient strength to retain the cylinder in a rigidposition under normal pressures, but to yield 1n one direction or theother in case of a very sudden movement.

A similar arrangement is shown in Figs. 5

and 6, in this case, however, each cylinder carries two guide rods 8, swhich are adapted to slide in brackets t, t on the framing,

springs being arranged around the said rods and between the brackets andthe lugs which carry the rods. ()r a spring valve may be fixed to thepiston .to serve the same purpose the said valve opening under abnormalpressure and thus allowing the piston more freedom of movement withinthe cylinder.

u is the shield for protecting the bob of the pendulum from aircurrents.

In the form of my inventionshown in Fig. 7 the pendulum is in the formof a platform 1; upon which the aviator and passengers or a dead weight,may be carried, the platform being suitably connected to the mechanismwhich controls the equilibrating planes. In the specific device shown inthis figure the platform is provided with a lonitudinally movable slide.2 which has. rigidly secured to its lower side a pin 11; which extendsinto the slots 9 and h of the bars and i which control the equilibratingplanes and I also provide means for changing the relation of the-slide zand pin w with re spect to the platform, which consists of a hand lever41; working in'conjunction with a locking quadrant y, the lower end ofsaid hand lever entering a recess in the upper face of slide 2 as shown.

Supposing the lever to be locked in its median position, as shown inFig. 7, the change of balance of the aeroplane would cause the platformto swing longitudinally or laterally and the pin w would cause theoperation of the proper equilibrating plane or planes to restore theequilibrium. By adjusting the hand lever backward or forward the slide acan be shifted with respect to the platform, thereby actuating theforward equilibrating plane, and causing the ma chine to ascend ordescend, by moving forward or backward the operating bar j.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my saidinvention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare thatwhat I claim is 1. In an aerial machine, the combination with the mainframe, and a main supporting plane, oflaterally disposed verticallymovable equilibrating auxiliary planes arranged in a line extendingtransversely of the machine, a centrally disposed vertically movableequilibrating plane arranged out of transverse alinement with saidlateral planes, a pendulous body supported by the main frame, deviceshaving slotted portions disposed perpendicularly with each other, andengaging a part connected with said pendulous body, connections from oneof said slotted devices to said lateral equilibrating planes andconnections from the otherof said slotted devices to the centralequilibrating plane.

r 2., In an aerial machine, the combination with the main frame, and amain supporting plane, of laterally disposed vertically movableequilibrating auxiliary planes arranged ina line extending transverselyof the machine, a centrally arranged vertically movable equilibratingplane arranged out of transverse alinement with said' lateral planes, apendulous body supported by the main frame, devices having slottedportions disposed perpendicularly with each other, and engaging a partconnected with said pendulous body, connections from one of said slotteddevicesto said lateral equilibrating planes, and connections from theother of said slotted devices-t6 the central equilibrating plane, andcushioning devices for retarding the movements of said slotted de vices.

3. In an aerial machine, the combination with the main frame and mainsupporting plane, of laterally disposed vertically movable equilibratingplanes, a centrally arranged vertically movable equilibrating plane, apendulous body supported by the main frame, connections from saidpendulous body to said laterally disposed equilibrating planes, andoperable by the lateral movement of said body, connections between saidpendulous body and said centrally arranged equilibrating plane, operableby the movement QflSfilCl body longitudinally of the machine, acushioning device connected with said pendulous body for retarding itslateral movements, and a cushioning device pendulous body for retardingits lateral movements, a dash pot connected with said body for retardingits longitudinal movements, each of said dash pots being provided withcushioning springs interposed.

between the dash pot and the'main frame.

5. In an aerial machine, the combination with the main frame andmain-supporting plane, of laterally disposed vertically movableeq-uilibrating planes, a centrally arranged vertically movableequilibrating plane, a pendulous body supported by the main frame,connections from said pendulous body to said laterally disposed equili--brating planes, and operable by the lateral movement of said body,connections between said pendulous body and said centrally arrangedequilibrating plane, operable by the movement ofsaid body longitudinallyof the machine, a double acting dash pot connected with said pendulousbody for retarding its lateral movements in both direct-ions, a doubleacting dash pot'connected with said body for retarding its longitudinalmovements in both directions, connections betweensaid dashl, pots and}the mainframe permitting the longitudinal bodily movement of thedashgfpots in both directions, and a cushioning spring interposedbetween each end offeaclifidash pot and a part connected [withjtlfegmain frame.

6. In an aerial machine,'the combination with a main frame, a; mainplane, and a movable equilibrating plane, of a pendulous body supportedfrom'the'mainframe, a connection between saidpendulous body and theequilibrating plane, a dash pot connected to said main 'body forretarding its movement in' a direction to operate the equi-' libratingplane, connections between said dash pot and the main frame permittingthe dash pot to movie bodily with respect to I the main frame andyielding cushioning devices interposed between the dash pot and partsconnected with the mainframe, whereby the dash pot may yield bodilyagainst sudden shock from the pendulous body.

7. In an aerial machine, the combination with a main frame, a main planeand a movable equilibrating plane, of a pendulous body supported fromthe main frame, a connection between said body and the equilibratingplane, a dash pot movably mounted on the main frame connected to saidpendulousleody, and cushioning springs interposed betweensaid dash potand the main frame.

8. In an aerial machine, the combination with a main frame, a main planeand a movable equilibrating plane, of a pendulous body supported fromthe main frame, a longitudinally sliding bar connected to said pendulousbody, a rotary device, the said sliding. bar having a spirally disposedportion engaging and movable through said rotary device for rotating thesame in opposite directions simultaneously, and a connection betweensaid rotary device and said equilibrating plane.

9. In an aerial machine, the combination with a main frame, a main planeand a movable equilibrating plane, 'of a pendulous body supported fromthe main frame, alongitudinally sliding bar connected to said pendulousbody, a rotary device, the said sliding bar having a spirally disposedportion engaging and movable through said rotary device for rotating thesame in opposite directions simultaneously, and a connection betweensaid rotary device and said equilibrating plane, and a cushioning deviceoperatively connected with said pen dulous body.

10. In an aerial machine, the combination with a main frame, a mainplane and a movable equilibrating plane, of a pendulous body supportedfrom the main frame, a longitudinally sliding bar connected to saidpendulous body, a rotary device, the said sliding bar having a spirallydisposed portion engaging and movable through said rotary device forrotating the same, and a connection between said rotary device and saidequilibrating plane, and cushioning devices connected with saidlongitudinally movable bar for retarding the movements thereof in bothdirections.

11. In an aerial machine, the combination with the mainframe, and a mainsupporting plane, of laterally: disposed Vertically movableequilibrating auxiliary planes arranged ina line extending transverselyof the machine, a centrally disposed vertically movable equilibratingplane arranged out of transverse alinement with said lateral planes, apendulous body supported by the main frame, a longitudinally movabledevice mounted on the mainframe and provided with a slottedportiondisposed transversely thereof, connections between said bar and thelateral equilibrating planes, a second longitudinally movable vdevicedisposed perpendicularly to the first, and provided with a transverselyslotted portion extending transversely of the slotted portion of theother bar, connections between 'said second bar and the centralequilibrat-ing plane, and a part connected with the pendulous bodyengaging the slotted portions of both bars. 3

12. In an aerial machine, the combination with the main frame, and amain supporting plane, of laterally disposed vertically movableequilibrating auxiliary planes arranged in a line extending transverselyof the ma chine, a centrally disposedvertically mov; able equilibratingplane arranged out of transverse alinement withsaid lateral planes, apendulous body supported by the main frame, a longitudinally movabledevice mounted on the main frame and provided with a slotted portiondisposed transversely thereof, connections between said bar and thelateral equilibrating planes, a second longitudinally movable devicedisposed perpendicularly to the first, and provided with a transverselyslotted portion extending transversely of the slotted portion of theother bar, connections between said second bar and the centralequilibrating plane, and a part connected with the pendulous bodyengaging the slotted portions of both bars,

and a cushioning device operatively connected with each of said bars.

13. In an aerial machine, the combination with the main frame, and amain supporting plane, of laterally disposed vertically movableequilibrating auxiliary planes arranged in a line extending transverselyof the machine, a centrally disposed vertically movable equilibratingplane arranged out of transverse alinement with said lateral planes, apendulous body supported by the main frame, a longitudinally movabledevice 'mounted on the main frame and provided with a slotted portiondisposed transversely thereof, connections between said bar and thelateral equilibrating planes, a second longitudinally movable devicedisposed perpendicularly to the first, and provided with a transverselyslotted portion extending transversely of the slotted portion of theother bar, connections between said second bar and the centralequilibrating plane, and a part connected with the pendulous bodyengaging the slotted -por-- tions of both bars, and a dash potoperatively connected to each of said bars.

14. In an aerial machine, the, combination with the main. frame, and amain supporting plane, of laterally'disposed vertically movableequilibrating auxiliary planes arranged in a line extending transverselyof the machine, a centrally disposed vertically movable ,equilibrating'plane arranged out of transverse alinement with said lateral planes, a'pendulous'body supported by the main frame, a longitudinally movabledevice mounted on the main frame and provided with a slotted portiondisposed transversely thereof, connections between said bar and thelateral equilibrating planes, a second longitudinally movable devicedisposed perpendicularly to the first, and provided with a transverselyslotted portion extending transversely of the slotted portion of theother'bar, connections between said second bar and thecentralequilibrating plane, and a partconnected with the pendulous bodyengaging-the slotted por tions of both bars, adash pot operativelyconnected to each of said bars, and cushioning devices interposedbetween each of said dash pots and the main frame.

15. In an aerial machine, the combination with the main frame, and amain supporting plane, of laterally disposed vertically movableequilibrating auxiliary planes arranged in a line extending'transverselyof the machine, a centrally disposed vertically movable 'equilibratingplane arranged out of transverse alinement with said lateral planes, apendulous body supported by the main frame, a longitudinally movabledevice mounted on the main frame and provided with a slotted portiondisposed transversely thereof, connections between. said bar and thelateral equilibrating planes, a second longitudinally movable devicedisposed perpendicularly to the first, and provided with a transverselyslotted portion extending transversely of the slotted portion of theother bar, connections between said second bar and the-centralequilibrati'ng plane, and a part connected with the planes, a pendulousbody supported by the main frame, a longitudinally movable devicemounted on the main frame and provided with a slotted portion disposedtransversely thereof, connections between said bar and the lateralequilibrating planes, a second longitudinally movable device disposedperpendicularly to the first, and provided with atra-nsver'sely. slottedportion a sliding connection between each of said 10' extendingtransversely of the slot-ted porpistons and the main frame, andcushioning tion of the other bar, connections between springs forretarding the movement of each said second bar and the centralequilibratof saidcylinders in both directions.

ing plane and a part connected with the v pendulous body engaging theslotted -por- HENRY L R T tions of both bars, a piston .operativelyconlVitnesses: v nected to each of said bars, a cylinder closedATHERSTONE DAMANT,

at eachend engaging each of said pistons, HARRY SAUNDERS.

